40 THE PORTRAIT GALLERY 
been developed through his experience as a director of two 
national banks. 
SENATOR FarrFax had an inborn love of fine horses, and with 
his acquisition of Oak Hill in 1885 he entered, extensively into 
the breeding and showing of Hackneys. His animals were taken 
into the prize ring of every large horse exhibition in America, 
and two of his best were practically undisputed champions of 
the Hackney breed. Mr. Farrrax was the first man in America 
deliberately and skillfully to breed for horses genuinely fitted in 
form and action for show arena and park or boulevard. His 
foundation stock was secured in the well-bred Kentucky and 
Virginia mares, while a thorough scouring of Europe for a sire 
led to his choice of the Hackney stallion, Matchless of Londes- 
boro. Throughout a series of years, his progeny, bred and fitted 
at Oak Hill for harness use brought an average at public and 
private sale of nearly $900. For many years eastern Hackney 
breeders sent their mares to the cover of Oak Hill stallions, and 
the care of mature and young stock from other studs formed a 
substantial part of the work on the 1,700-acre estate. 
Henry Fairrax was for many years president of the Hackney 
Breeders’ Association of America, and at the time of his death, 
July 11, 1916, was president of the Virginia State Fair Associa- 
tion. His spiritual life was deep and wholesome, and for many 
years he was vestryman in the Protestant Episcopal Church of 
Aldie. 
